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Old Sun Jan 01, 2017, 11:24am
ODog ODog is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 529
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob1968 View Post
Thanks, Bob. The above noted statements and the requirement that during a closely guarded situation, the distance is measured from the front foot/feet of the opponent to the front foot/feet of the ball handler, seem to be contradictory. A defender standing with his back to the ball handler doesn't seem to be guarding the ball handler. And a mental image of a defender standing with his back toward the ball handler, who is also facing away from the defender, doesn't seem to fit the concept of guarding.
Ballhandlers routinely have their backs to defenders, so that should cause no confusion. And while it may seem strange/rare to have the defender also facing the other direction, it's not like that changes the distance you'd measure between the front of the players' feet (other than perhaps a few inches).

Am I saying I'd call this? Probably not. Am I saying it's a good look? Definitely not. But don't let fan myths or personal bias cloud your understanding of the actual rules of the game.

A mental image of a player at halfcourt with his back to the basket, tossing the ball over his head toward the goal doesn't seem to fit the concept of a try, but it can easily be judged a try nonetheless ...